Friday, October 3, 2014

Introducing Christina J.

Hey there! My name is Christina J. I’m a 25YO energetic and cheerful gal, with thick 4a or coily tresses is my hair! Rewind back to July 2011 when I was in my last year in college; my hair was relaxed, caramel-blonde colored, and extremely damaged. I didn't have much money to get my hair done, so my hair grew out without me knowing that I was becoming a naturalista.

Once I realized I had two textures on my head, I knew I had to do something. I did not have the courage to big chop and my family was surely against me cutting my hair. So from April ’12 to Oct ’12, I transitioned - while trimming my hair every month. My hair was ear length at the time, so it was a short transitional phase. Then in October ‘12, I cut the last few bits off. As of now I have been a naturalista for 2 years!

My natural hair experience has been an “up and down” roller coaster. I enjoy my hair and what I can do with her, but at times I do become overwhelmed and frustrated. When I was transitioning and had my TWA, my mother and father told me to do something with “it” or go to the salon. At the time I was in college far, far away, so there was nothing they could do about it. Ha-ha! But once my hair reached shoulder length, my natural began to grow on my parents. My brothers and sisters loved my hair absolutely!

On the flip side, after college I met my boyfriend (now husband) when I had my TWA. I let him know of my plans and goals for my hair, and he said, “I support you in your natural hair journey.” That made my heart leap! He can’t keep his hands out my hair! He has HIMHS (hand in MY hair syndrome). As for others’ reactions, my hair is a conversation starter. I wear my hair in “eye-brow raising” and thought-provoking styles. I don’t mind the attention and I don’t mind talking about my hair.

My regimen is pretty simple to the point where it is internalized now. It took me 1.5 years to find the products I needed for my hair and a set regimen to follow as well. This is what works for me:

I love flat twists styles, two strand twists, and buns. I have mastered each style, that I do variations with them. I would love to have either dreadlocks or sister locks. They are too beautiful not to crown my head with.Well, that’s what I would call it – “visit.” I don’t really go; I’m a DIY girl to heart. I don’t trust others with my natural. However, I do get my hair straightened 3-4 times a year to do length checks, because my flat ironing skills suck. I also get Senegalese twists 2-3 times a year by my “specific” braider.

I do have a confession: There was a moment in the beginning of my hair journey when I got a partial STRAIGHT sew-in. You guessed it…I relaxed my edges. I had the style for 7-8 weeks, but the imprint of the relaxed edges was still there. So I cut the entire nape and hair around my ears and cut my crown to three inches of hair. It took about 6 months for my hair to grow back natural again. This was the worst decision I have ever made for my hair…all for a style! I decided that I was never, ever, ever going to make that decision again. During the duration of the crown being relaxed, it was very different because my styles were limited to protective styling and not out styles. But as my hair grew, it got easy to cut those suckers off.

Wherever you are at in your hair journey, love yourself continuously. Do this for you and only you. Yes, learn to care for your own hair and stay on the path for healthy hair; but priority is to keep a positive attitude about yourself and your tresses.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

1. Tell us a bit about
yourself: I like to think
of myself as a cheerful person. Born and raised in Kisumu, I love books, 90s
comedy shows and Coldplay. I’m 20 years old currently studying law at the
Middlesex University branch in Mauritius.

2. How long have you been
natural? What influenced your choice to go and remain natural?

I have been natural for 3 years although I have had natural hair
for 5 years. One day my Mum got tired of paying for retouches, took me to the
bathroom and *chop chop chop* hair all gone! My initial plan was to hide under
braids until my hair was reasonably long for perm but then I was introduced to
kimmaytube. She shot down every negative belief I had about natural hair. It
was an easy decision to remain natural; on the one end, relaxed hair and the
mentality that I could not accept what came naturally to me, and on the other,
the adventure of rediscovery and acceptance.

3. What reactions have you
received from your friends and family about your natural hair?

Family, friends and strangers on the street are at awe of my
natural hair. They always ask questions
and I am glad to help. When I first started out, I had no idea what I was doing
and walked around with a couple of failed looks, and like every other natural
story, I got the looks and the comments.

4. What products do you
currently use?

I can’t say I stick to products. I like switching them up and
experimenting with new things. The only thing that is consistent in my routine
is honey, mayo, yoghurt, apple cider vinegar and tea bag (rinse). I mix and
match with whatever product I have.

5. Tell us about your modeling
career as a woman of colour and as a natural:

I was discovered here in Mauritius at the university fashion
show and was introduced to its fashion industry. There aren’t many models of
colour however my dark skin has never brought any discrimination. My natural
hair has been said to be one of my unique qualities and consequently most don’t
know what to do with it. I have done my own hair for the shows and shoots that
I have done so far.

6. What do you like most
about being natural?The versatility and the freedom that comes with being natural is
a wonderful feeling.

7.What advice would you
give to someone who recently went natural or is transitioning:

Hair is hair. I do not support the enforcing of black ladies to
go natural, however I do enforce the eradication of the belief that relaxing
hair is the ONLY thing for black hair. False! Natural is a wonderful journey
full of mistakes and revelations. Fall in love with your own hair and its
characteristics and not what you hope it will look like or act like. Take heart
if you get tired, we all did at some point. Just have fun with it!

Monday, June 30, 2014

Happy Monday Ladies!

We are finally back to this blogging thing and are excited to be back! We are currently braiding quite often and wanted to share the products we have on rotation.

First off for about Kshs 560 the Parnevu Hair Mayonnaise is heaven sent, the consistency is quite thick and the slip is out of this world. The ingredients may not be the best however this deep conditioner works. For ladies with hair tangle problems...this product just melts the tangles away and leaves your hair soft yet strong.

Tresemme Naturals Vibrantly Smooth and Suave Almond and Shea Butter conditioner, these two are amazing for cowashing when in braids. They are also great as leave ins mixed with rose water and tea tree oil.

This is my homemade oil mix with avocado oil, jojoba oil, olive oil and grapeseed oil, peppermint and lavender oil. You know when you leave the braiders and your scalp is soooo tight and you do not want to move your braids....well this is amazing for applying on your scalp and easing the tightness. I( Nyachomba) have also been using the oil mix for sealing.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Hey Guys

Last night we attended an event at Villa Rosa Kempinski! Procter and Gamble East Africa were launching their new line of skin and body care products called Camay. We were super excited about being at the venue as well as... Free Wine and good wine at that! Truly Shameless :-)

The set up was was pretty shmoozy but we had a lovely time.

We have started you off with pics of the eye candy, tee hee!

Anita of From Curves with Love, Her lipstick Fayaaaa! You do know we had to stalk her blog and find out which brand it was...wait for it! Its MAC "All Fired Up", we are defo on the queue for a tube when MAC Village Market opens up.....you heard right...MAC is opening up a store in Village Market.

These two beautiful ladies are sisters and the most fashionable sisters at that! Anita of StyleSketches and Wanjiru. Anita is a lady worth knowing...apart from being super stylish, she is absolutely lovely and makes some elegant garb....go on and run to her blog!

Yes that is Mary and I totally being groupies for one of Kenya's Supermodels..Bidanya Barasa

Yes, we did get goody bags...our favourite scent of the Camay collections is Pure Refresh..go out and buy some...it smells heavenly :-)

Any new product lines we need to know about? Hit us up in the comments

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Have any of you kept up with your new year's resolutions? We probably gave up on our resolutions come Jan 5th! Sigh. Things needed to change and with a free running track in Lavington, Fatima and myself decided to pick up running every day at 7am, yes! Who would do that to themselves? Well when you realise that your trousers no longer fit and walking up stairs is getting difficult things needed to change STAT!

We run for 1hr everyday, Yes its only been 2 weeks but we are determined to look like those strong tumblr ladies....www.kurlsontherun.tumblr.com for more swoons.

What are you guys doing for exercise? anyone tried Bikram yoga?

If you are in the Lavington area join us at Jafferies running track at 7 am :-)

Monday, May 19, 2014

We have a new guest blogger....lets hear it for Fatima who will write a few posts once in a while...Her personality speaks through her writing and hopefully pics of her will grace the site soon :-)

Some of Nafy's work....Swooning

Hello lovely ladies, it is an absolute hoot for me to write
this to you today. I have been (very graciously) given the opportunity to put
this out to you by the vivacious Miss Nyachomba. While the blog is solely
dedicated to the unrelenting search to achieve naturally beautiful locks, it is
also (in my interpretation) about all things beautiful and attainable (no
killing, maiming, stealing, scheming etc etc involved, ok a little scheming).
It is of one such attainable thing that I would like to have your opinion on
today.

It has recently come to my knowledge that the very talented
Miss Nafy Abdi, make up artist extraordinaire (http://nafyabdi.com/about/ , https://www.facebook.com/nafyabdimakeup)
has plans to come on over to the sunny
savannahs and hold…wait for it…a makeup tutorial(s?)! I, personally, am tres
excited about the possibility. So we put so much effort into our hair and our
skins but how do we view make up application and how does the way we approach
it influence the end result? My general view towards make up can be summed up
in one sentence, I’m going to smudge the drasted eye liner, again! Now I ask
you ladies, don’t you aspire to be an eyeliner non-smudger? I want to conquer
that thing…I aspire…I dream! More than anything, I don’t want my makeup to look
like makeup…I want to look radiant, fresh, sultry…EFFORTLESS, but not made up,
anything but! Alas, I haven’t the art and a palette in my hand invariably
produces a tart! And so, enter Miss Nafy, who proposes to take my humble
quivering hand and instruct it…un-tart it, so to speak.

This will, however, not be possible without your presence,
actually quite impossible (she needs warm bodies, you see)! So for those who
have gone ahead and looked at her flawless work (via the links given above) and
are now in absolute awe, please give us feedback on your thoughts and whether
you would be interested in an afternoon of colour, conquest and I have no
doubt, oodles of fun!

Leave a comment or send an email to kurlykichana@gmail.com

P.S lopsided lipstick and eyebrows ala Spock do not have to
define us!